The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-12

ground, says ne went along with the
right wing of the command, being
pressed in about sunrise, down Cole
creek and the river and led part of
Bells brigade up the bluff be-
tween the outer and inner works.
They were then in posi-
ton to intercept any retreat
ing parties in this direction. They
filed on foot up the bluff, deployed
as skirmishers, and advanced their
lines to within several hundred yards
of the garrison, which had all been
now concentrated, as the forces on
thsir right had run them out of the
advanced fort and rife pits. 1T was
after 10 o'clock" said he when this
line, with the balance of the forces,
made charge" He says also that
the first charge was not successful,
and that the men remained in a
deep ravine within fifty yards in
front of the garrison. In the mean
time on the left Mccullough had
worked his men to the barracks just
in front of the works, seventy yards,
which the garrison did not succeed
in burning as they retreated. Their
guns could not be depressed to bear
upon an advancing party on the
sloping grounds, having a ravine,
also running south, favorable to
their advance. Everything was now
nearly complete for a general charge.
1t was about IL o'clock, just before
the final charge was ordered, that
one of the men pointed Forrest out
to him for the first time. He was
riding over the field ordering
the men, with his right hand
extended, to Move upl" Move
Up therel" Move upl" He
says the brigade hospital to which
he hastily retired just then was one
mile in the rear. The wounded were
seen by him going back now and then.
He says that according to his infor-
nation next day by many partici-
pants, Gen. Forrest started, as the
lines were all in readiness for a
charge, from the ravine running west,
with a flag of truce, in company with
one or two more, and, on reaching a
point within speaking distance, ex-
claimed, Surrender I'll treat the
whites as prisoners of war, but the
negroes | will not" saying also, Il
am Gen. Forrest" (The negroes
were regarded, according to law, as
property to be returned to their own
ers.) Booth having been killed, Mai.
Bradford, the commander, replied,
II give no quarters nor ask none"
This is not, however, in accordance
with history.) Forrest turned his
horse and rode back, the garrison
firing on the truce before he reached
the ravine from whence he had start
ed. Immediately afterward the bugle
was sounded as a signal prearranged :,
the men dashed forward, helped
each other up the ditch, and reach
ing the top Of the fort, commenced
firing with navy skies. All at
once" said he, "the firing ceased +,
and the men about the hospital
where | was were of different opin-
ions about the result. One said,
they've got it," others expressed
doubt, looked sad and were afraid
the ammunition had given out. In a
short time trooper came up with a
lot of goods, and on being asked
about the result, replied: We've
torn her all to hell smashes." He
says he then went to the fort and
| asked the Colonel if he did not find
everything as he told him, who re.
piled that "he did exactly" and tC
help himself to whatever he wanted
there, and that he saw only few
wounded or dead Contederates. Gen
Forests horse, a stallion, was lying
up the road leading down the hill tC
the fort, shot in the head. Another
horse was killed under him also. In,
side of the bull pen" as he termed
it, he found Confederates burying
the dead, piling negroes and whites
in the bitches. 1t was now about :
o'clock. The artillery within indi.
Gated they had been rapidly fred
and the implements belonging to il
we're lying around in all directions. Al
he went down to the stores he saw
bodies of Confederates helping them
selves to everything and re
joicing and hallooing. Every
fellow was his own clerk in
the stores as they helped themselves
He left Gen. Forrest in the fort
talking to Bradford, who was bare
headed and wringing wet, havins
been taken out Of the river. He
had heard Bradford make a speech
about one week before to crowd o.
citizens and soldiers in a store il
which he said: 81 like the rebels
we'll enough" but when they are
found in arms, show them ne
quarter"
The fort is narrow at the north
portion, being twenty-six yards, anC
wider at the southwest, where it il
fifty eight yards. 1t is 140 yards il
length, built is crescent form, will
angular shaped parapets to enfladt
the storming party. The ditch il
front was fourteen feet. 1t is now
indicated by dense growth Of To-
Gusts, saplings and other tangled
underground, and within is a corn
field of about one and one half acres
The old guide, now filty-nine years
old, says the blood stood there in
pudGlles, and that the following
summer the bears came and worked
into where dead negroes and white:
we're piled, and ate them, dragging
their bodies about. The balance
and fullest account of the Last
Military Operations at Fort Pillow
can be found in Campaigns of Gen.
Forrest, where it is unquestionably
shown that this was not a massacre
as many OF the Northern people be.
lieve, but was only the result Of &
combination of unfortunate circum-
stances. First, by the dastardly con
duct of the garrison toward citizens
and their dread of meeting the
friends of those whom they had de.
spoiled; hence Bradford asked nc
quarter and gave none. And, sec.
ond, the stupidity evinced in its de.
tense after the Confederates haC
gotten all advantages, together witt
| ba;n0 unJar tba inAuanoa of linuoI